Ilan Samuel Rubin (born July 7, 1988) is an American musician, producer, songwriter, and composer. He is the current drummer of Foo Fighters, having joined the band in 2025, replacing Josh Freese.[1][2] Prior to this, he was known for playing drums with a variety of artists, including Nine Inch Nails,[3] Paramore,[4] Lostprophets,[5] Angels & Airwaves[6] and Danny Elfman.[7] In 2008, he formed The New Regime, in which he sings and plays all instruments in the studio and plays guitar with a band for live performances. In 2021, he released music for the first time under his name.
Ilan Rubin | |
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 Rubin in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ilan Samuel Rubin July 7, 1988 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Origin | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1999–present |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | ilanrubinmusic |
In 2020, Rubin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nine Inch Nails, making him the youngest living inductee in its history.[8] He is also the first Rock Hall inductee to be born in the 1980s, and the first to be born after the establishment of the Hall itself.
Early life
editRubin was raised in San Diego, California.[9][10] He began playing drums at eight when he discovered his father's 1968 Silver Sparkle Ludwig drum kit in the garage. After three months of "toying" with the kit, he had taught himself to play and was jamming with his older brothers.[11] By age nine, he was ready to play for F.o.N., a band that eventually would do three stints on the Vans Warped Tour, where Rubin would also fill in on drums for bands such as NOFX. In 1999, F.o.N. opened Woodstock '99 on the Emerging Artist Stage; as a result, 11-year-old Rubin gained entry into the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest musician to ever play on a Woodstock stage.[12]
Career
editLostprophets (2006–2008)
edit
Rubin was the drummer for the Welsh band Lostprophets. He replaced Mike Chiplin, founding member and original drummer, who left the band in 2005. Before finding Rubin, Lostprophets hired session drummer Josh Freese to record the tracks on Liberation Transmission. After Rubin joined, he played the remaining two tracks on Liberation Transmission: "For All These Times Son, For All These Times" and "Everybody's Screaming!!!", as well as the entirety of The Betrayed.[13][14]
While touring with Lostprophets, Rubin played his first shows in the United Kingdom and toured large arenas for the first time. Rubin would describe the transition from his previous smaller bands to arena shows as a "big step up", but stated that Lostprophets had become "stagnant" prior to his departure for Nine Inch Nails in 2008.[13]
The New Regime (2007–2020)
editRubin's first solo album, under the pseudonym 'The New Regime', called Coup, was recorded throughout 2007 and 2008 and released in November 2008. While touring with Nine Inch Nails and following the conclusion of the Wave Goodbye Tour, Rubin worked on his second album, Speak Through The White Noise, which was released in April 2011.[15] Before this, Ilan released a free single titled 'Remission Of Guilt' through his website. It has been confirmed that this track will not be on the new album. In 2011, he went on Tour with Taking Back Sunday as an opening act. In 2013 and 2015, he released the two halves of his next project, Exhibit A and Exhibit B. On March 6, 2020, The New Regime released its fifth studio album, Heart Mind Body & Soul, featuring the singles "Turning a Blind Eye" and "Heart Mind Body & Soul." Over five months before its release, Rubin released three EPs (Heart, Mind, and Body), each with four songs from the upcoming album that fit the themes of the titles. The New Regime was on tour with Silversun Pickups in March 2020 to support the new album, which abruptly halted courtesy of the COVID pandemic and resulting shutdown. Just before that tour, "Heart Mind Body & Soul" was released, which included all of the material on the previously released EPs, a final EP called "Soul," plus some bonus material. The album was receiving critical praise just before the shutdown.[16]
The New Regime Live Lineup: Ilan Rubin: vocals, piano, guitar, Kemble Walters: bass, vocals, Rob Ketchum: drums, vocals
Nine Inch Nails (2009–2025)
editOn November 15, 2008, Trent Reznor announced via the Nine Inch Nails website that Rubin would be joining industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails as their drummer after the departure of Josh Freese in late 2008. Rubin's role in the live iteration of Nine Inch Nails grew to include playing piano, synths, bass, guitar, and even cello. Rubin was the longest tenured live drummer for the band.[17] In July 2025, it was announced that Rubin would be leaving the band after his decision to join the Foo Fighters, replacing Freese. In July 2025, Freese rejoined Nine Inch Nails.[1][18]
Angels & Airwaves (2011–present)
editIn 2011, Rubin joined Angels & Airwaves, replacing drummer Atom Willard.[19] He has appeared on all the band's studio releases since the 2014 album The Dream Walker. Rubin acts a multi-instrumentalist for the group during recording and frontman Tom DeLonge has credited him as a major contributor to the band's songwriting process.[20]
Paramore (2012–2013)
editOn June 28, 2012, Paramore confirmed Rubin would drum on their fourth album,[4] though he didn't join as an official member of the band. Rubin recorded all the drums on their self-titled album and joined them for its subsequent tour. The album went platinum and the song "Ain't It Fun" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.[21]
Danny Elfman (2023–present)
editOn May 8, 2023, Danny Elfman announced that he would be doing two shows, one in Chula Vista, CA., and the other in Irvine, CA., entitled “From Boingo to Batman to Big Mess and Beyond!” In making that announcement, Elfman confirmed that Ilan Rubin would replace Josh Freese on drums.[22]
Foo Fighters (2025–present)
edit_(cropped).jpg)
On July 30, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Rubin, would join the group, replacing Josh Freese.[1] On September 13, Foo Fighters played their first show with Rubin on drums at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California. At the show, Dave Grohl confirmed that Rubin would be the band's official drummer.[2] "Asking for a Friend" was the first song featuring Rubin. He appeared on the band's album Your Favorite Toy, released on April 24, 2026.[23]
Film scores
editRubin has performed on multiple film scores and, starting during the COVID pandemic, began composing original film scores.[24] Films he has scored include 2022's Bobcat Moretti[25] and 2023's Monsters of California, the latter of which marked the directorial debut of his Angels & Airwaves bandmate Tom DeLonge.[26] His work on Bobcat Moretti earned him a nomination for best original score at the Beaufort International Film Festival.[27]
| Year | Artist | Album | Song | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Angels & Airwaves | Stomping The Phantom Brake Pedal | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2014 | Angels & Airwaves | The Dream Walker | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2020 | The New Regime | Heart Mind Body and Soul | Artist, Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2020 | Angels & Airwaves | All That's Left is Love – Single | "All That's Left is Love" | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2021 | Angels & Airwaves | Lifeforms | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 2022 | Oliver Tree | Cowboys Tears | "Cowboy's Don't Cry"
"The Villain" |
Producer, Songwriter |
| 2023 | Jawny | It's Never Fair, Always True | "Adios" | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2023 | 44phantom | Cherry Cigarettes – Single | Cherry Cigarettes | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2023 | BBGirls | One More Time - Single | "One More Time" | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2024 | Jazmin Bean | Traumatic Livelihood | "Black Dress" | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2024 | Friday Pilots Club | Nowhere | "Nosedive" | Songwriter |
| 2024 | Tatiana Hazel | Can Anybody Hear Me | "Better Off"
"All Along" |
Producer, Songwriter |
| 2024 | Bleu Grave | Bleu Grave, Vol 2, - EP | "In Exile"
"Television Tell Me What To Do" "Her Projection" "Hollow" |
Producer, Songwriter |
| 2024 | Atarashii Gakko! | AG Calling | "Superhuman" | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2024 | Sueco | Attempted Lover | "Outta My Head" | Producer, Songwriter |
| 2025 | Industrial Pulsar | Further Into The Gear | Forgotten | Drummer, Drum Arranger |
| Year | Artist | Album | Song | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Denver Harbor | Extended Play | Drums | |
| 2004 | Denver Harbor | Scenic | Drums | |
| 2013 | Paramore | Paramore | Drums | |
| 2013 | M83 | Oblivion [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] | "Oblivion" | Drums |
| 2013 | Nine Inch Nails | Hesitation Marks | Drums & Percussion | |
| 2015 | M83, Haim | Insurgent [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] | “Holes In The Sky” | Drums |
| 2016 | Simple Plan | Taking One For The Team | Drums | |
| 2017 | Beck | Colors | Drums | |
| 2020 | Phantogram | Ceremony | Drums | |
| 2022 | Frank Turner | FTHC | Tracks 1, 3–7, 9–12, 14 | Drums |
| 2023 | Melanie Martinez | Portals | "Evil" | Drums |
| 2024 | Christophe Beck | Road House [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] | Drums & Guitar |
| Year | Film | Director | Principal Cast | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Bobcat Moretti | Rob Margolies | Tim Realbuto, Vivica A. Fox, Taryn Manning, Coolio | Composer |
| 2023 | Monsters of California | Tom DeLonge | Jack Samson, Jack Lancaster, Jared Scott | Composer |
| 2023 | In Fidelity | Rob Margolies | Chris Parnell, Cara Buono, Dennis Haysbert | Composer |
| 2024 | Road House | Doug Liman | Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor McGregor |
Discography
editAs solo artist
- "Talk Talk Talk" - Single (2021)
- "Talk Talk Talk (Phantogram Remix)" - Single (2021)
- "Chaos in Motion" (2021)
- "Good Morning Good Morning" (The Beatles cover) (2022)
- "24HR Fix" (2022)
- "Living in the Underworld" (2022)
- "Don't Panic" (2023)
- "Room for Two" (2023)
- "No Place Left To Go" (2023)
- "Get Out While You Can" (2023)
- "Looming" (2024)
With Nine Inch Nails
- Hesitation Marks (2013)
With Angels & Airwaves
- The Dream Walker (2014)
- ... Of Nightmares (2015)
- Chasing Shadows (2016)
- Lifeforms (2021)
With the New Regime
- "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles cover) (2007)
- Coup (2008)
- Remission of Guilt (2010)
- Speak Through The White Noise (2011)
- Exhibit A (2013)
- Exhibit B (2015)
- Heart Mind Body & Soul (2020)
With Foo Fighters
- Your Favorite Toy (2026)
References
edit- 1 2 3 Millman, Ethan (July 30, 2025). "Foo Fighters' New Drummer Revealed (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 8, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- 1 2 "Foo Fighters Debut New Drummer Ilan Rubin at Surprise Show". Rolling Stone. 2025.
At one point, frontman Dave Grohl introduced Rubin from the stage. "Everybody else has said it," Grohl said. "I finally get the opportunity to say, 'Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome…' The most badass motherfucker, Ilan Rubin, is playing drums in the Foo Fighters right now. It's official. You can stamp the passport."
- ↑ "Lostprophets drummer joins Nine Inch Nails". nme.com. NME. November 17, 2008. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- 1 2 "Paramore To Enlist Drummer Ilan Rubin For Recording". diymag.com. June 29, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Lostprophets show off new drummer". digitalspy.com. Digital Spy. May 3, 2006. Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Lostprophets drummer to join Nine Inch Nails full-time". NME. November 18, 2008. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Excited to be a part of this!". Instagram. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ Varga, George (September 4, 2020). "San Diego's Ilan Rubin will be youngest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee ever as member of Nine Inch Nails". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ↑ Varga, George (September 4, 2020). "San Diego's Ilan Rubin will be youngest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee ever as member of Nine Inch Nails". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on July 31, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ↑ Page, Eric S.; Rosenborg, Rutger (November 9, 2020). "San Diegan Is Youngest Artist Ever Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". NBC 7 San Diego. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ↑ Payne, Chris (March 30, 2015). "Nine Inch Nails Drummer Ilan Rubin's The New Regime Premieres Exhibit B Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023.
- ↑ "Youngest Performer Ever to Play Woodstock Takes to the AMP3.COM Emerging Artist Stage". BNET. Business Wire. July 16, 1999. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2011 – via findarticles.com.
- 1 2 Stocks, Matt (May 17, 2016). "Why is Ilan Rubin one of rock's most in-demand drummers?". loudersound.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Lostprophets drummer to join Nine Inch Nails full-time". NME. November 18, 2008. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ↑ Allen, Jay (October 25, 2013). "New Angels & Airwaves Drummer is Local Phenom is Ilan Rubin". San Diego Reader.
- ↑ Yücel, Ilker (February 5, 2021). "ReView: The New Regime – Heart Mind Body & Soul". regenmag.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Nine Inch Nails Drummer Recalls 'Terrifying Moment' in Audition". ultimateclassicrock.com. January 30, 2022. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
"It sounds crazy to say, but I've been the longest-standing drummer [in NIN history]," Rubin noted. "I mean, anybody who knows Nine Inch Nails knows that there have been quite a few people in and out of that door, and it's insane to me that I've been with the band for 13 years now."
- ↑ "Foo Fighters Find New Drummer as Their Previous One Joins Nine Inch Nails". People.com. People Magazine. Archived from the original on July 31, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ↑ "Angels & Airwaves Announce New Album". Female First. October 20, 2011. Archived from the original on October 22, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ↑ Amit Sharma (September 9, 2021). "Tom DeLonge: "The secret to playing fast is masturbating. If you don't masturbate, you can't play punk rock!"". Guitar World. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ↑ Ehrlich, Brenna (February 8, 2015). "Paramore Won Their First Grammy Ever — And Made History". MTV (Viacom Media Networks). Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Danny Elfman Announces Pair Of California Performances". pollstar.com. May 8, 2023. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Foo Fighters Announce New Album "Your Favorite Toy"". Pitchfork. February 19, 2026. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Ilan Rubin". kraft-engel.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ "ABOUT". Bobcat Moretti. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Aliens Exist in Trailer for Tom DeLonge's Directorial Debut 'Monsters of California'". The Hollywood Reporter. September 14, 2023. Archived from the original on September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ Alas, J. (July 31, 2025). "Meet Ilan Rubin, the Foo Fighters' New Drummer After Firing Josh Freese from The Band". Music Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
External links
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